BNSF Railway on Oct. 20 named Burlington Junction Railway (BJRY) its 2016 Short Line of the Year at its annual Short Line Conference. BNSF recognized BJRY “for its dedication to promoting safety initiatives, customer relationships and growth opportunities. Since the formation of BJRY in 1985, the railroad has not had a single FRA reportable injury.”
Headquartered in Burlington, Iowa, BJRY operates out of eight different locations throughout Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, moving approximately 15,000 carloads annually. BJRY ships commodities such as frac sand, lumber, tallow, resin and frozen foods. The short line’s major accomplishments in 2015 included moving 100 frac sand unit trains, as well as building a new 2,000-foot stretch of interchange track in Quincy, Ill. “By working with BNSF, BJRY volumes have grown 27% year-to-date, despite the current difficulties in a soft freight rail market,” BNSF noted.
“BJRY is exemplary and deserving of high recognition in achieving sustainable zero injuries while growing at impressive rates in a difficult economic environment,” said BNSF Assistant Vice President, Interline/Short Line Development Merril Lieb. “BJRY’s safety record and growth investments are direct examples of the benefits that result from short lines striving to be injury-free, to invest in the future and to focus on opportunities that will lead to mutual success with BNSF.”
“Our success is due to us having the best employees of any operation,” said BJRY General Manager Bob Wingate. “Customers constantly report that our employees genuinely care about their problems and concerns. This award is a credit to them and their dedication to our railroad.”